Petunia plant named ‘PET0606’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘PET0606’, characterized by its mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching growth habit; green foliage; and numerous hot pink colored flowers with broad white, star like markings.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PET0606’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘PET0606’.

The new Petunia originated from a conventional cross of proprietaryPetunia selections, ‘PET0482’ (the female parent; not patented) and‘Bicolor Lavender’ (the male parent; not patented) conducted on the10^(th) day of May 2004 in a cultivated area of Aquebogue, N.Y. Seedsfrom this cross were planted and the individual plant known as ‘PET0606’was selected because of its combination of exceptional features, and hasbeen propagated asexually by vegetative cuttings since that time. Theunique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘PET0606’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PET0606’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PET0606’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Numerous Hot pink flowers with broad white venation that        creates a star shape design.

Plants of the new Petunia differ from the parent plants in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘PET0606’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalleaves and flowers of ‘PET0606’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Aquebogue, N.Y., under commercialpractice during the spring and summer in a polyethylene coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures averaging 22 degrees C., nighttemperatures averaging 17 degrees C., and light levels ranging from9,000 to 12,000 lux. Plants were grown for about 16 weeks in 25 cmcontainers. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar ‘PET0606’.-   Parentage: Female: Petunia ‘PET0482’, Male: Petunia ‘Bicolor    Lavender’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 20 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially            upright, then mounding and outwardly spreading; moderately            vigorous growth habit. Freely basal branching habit lateral            branches potentially developing at every node.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio            containers and landscape applications.        -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 50 to 60 cm.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—About 28 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement, before flowering.—Alternate, simple.        -   Arrangement, when flowering.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Viscid, pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: 137A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 137C.            Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Similar to lamina.            Petiole length: About 5 mm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm.            Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.            Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 137A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers; flowers face            upward or outward; single, axillary. Freely flowering,            typically about ten open flowers and flower buds per lateral            branch.        -   Natural flowering season.—Not day length responsive; plants            flower from April until frost in New York; flowering            continuous during the flowering period. Plants start            flowering about three weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth: About 4.5 cm. Tube            length: About 2.8 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About            8 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong with ruffled apices. Color: 142C            striped 61B.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five            petals, fused into flared trumpet with distinct clefts            between petal lobes. Petal lobe length: About 3 cm. Petal            lobe width: About 3 cm. Petal shape: Roughly fan-shaped.            Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture,            upper surface: Smooth, satiny. Petal texture, lower surface:            Pubescent.        -   Color.—Petal, when opening, upper surface: N74A. Petal, when            opening, lower surface: N74D. Petal, fully opened, upper            surface: N74B and white. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:            75A and white. Flower throat (inside): N74B and white.            Flower tube (outside): N75A and white. Venation, upper petal            surface: N74A. Venation, lower petal surface: None.            Venation, throat: N74B. Venation, tube: N74B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals            fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About            2 cm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: N74B, lower, 75A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Angle:            About 45 degrees to the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per            flower; stamens adnate to corolla tube. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: 92A. Pollen            amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 92A. Pistils: Quantity: One            per flower. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Stigma shape:            Rounded. Stigma color: 150B. Style length: About 1.6 cm.            Style color: 144B. Ovary color: 144B. Fruit/seed: Fruit and            seed production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from 2 to 32 degrees C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘PET0606’, asillustrated and described.